Father Corbeil came to Zambia as a missionary under the White Fathers in 1943. Other than missionary work, Father Corbeil was interested in African Culture and Environment. Over the years he collected cultural and Natural Artifacts among the villages of Northern Zambia and later figurines along the Zambia Congo Boarder on the Copperbelt.
He was particularly interested in items of music, medicine, initiation and witchcraft. He also made a reasonable collection of snakes.
The name "Moto Moto " was derived from Bishop Joseph Dupont who smoked a pipe and called for "Moto" - fire in swahilili which earned him the name Moto Moto. Bishop Adolf Furstenderg Bishop of Mbala Diocese donated the present day main gallery which houses the Ethnography gallery which was previously a carpenter workshop.
